El Cajon means “the box” in Spanish- appropriate for a California city surrounded on three sides by mountains. Unlike other cities in San Diego county, El Cajon may not be a household name, but residents like the diversity, the outdoor living, and the relatively slow place of the town. Only half an hour from the beach and near the mountains, living in El Cajon gives you access to a lot of outdoor recreation. There’s also many great and affordable restaurants in town
While El Cajon is affordable by the standards of San Diego County, housing prices are still above national averages. The average rent on a one-bedroom apartment is $1,795, up 15% from 2021. The median house price is $762K, up 13% over 2021. Moving to El Cajon might involve waiting for the right property to open up or settling for less space.